Million Dollar Bike Ride Research Grant Available

Thanks to the efforts of Team Glut1, Miles for Millie, the Penn Medicine Orphan Disease Center, and donors to the Glut1 Deficiency Foundation, we are excited to announce a new research grant opportunity:

One $60,367 grant is available to support a project that will lead to a deeper understanding of this disease so it can be diagnosed earlier and treated more easily and more effectively.

Glut1 Deficiency Syndrome is a rare genetic condition that impairs brain metabolism. It is caused by variants in the SLC2A1 gene, which encodes the glucose transporter protein type 1 (Glut1). Glut1 is the principal transporter of glucose and also moves other important sugars across the blood-brain barrier. Impaired glucose transport associated with Glut1 Deficiency creates a metabolic crisis in the brain and often results in a range of neurological symptoms such as seizures, speech and movement disorders, and developmental delays. Not all patients experience all symptoms, and there is a wide spectrum of severity. Symptoms may change and evolve over time.

Potential areas of emphasis for this RFA may include but are not limited to: open source resource development (cell lines, assays, functional studies, etc.); Glut1 at the blood brain barrier; brain glucose metabolism; ketogenic diets as metabolic therapies; basic science to better understand underlying disease mechanism; identification of new biomarkers and outcome measures to be used in future clinical studies; pre-clinical and clinical therapy development projects; and understanding how the involvement of Glut1 in different diseases can lead to the development of better treatments for Glut1 Deficiency. Projects with novel concepts and
collaborative/team approaches are especially encouraged as are projects with a direct link to therapy development.

This grant is made possible by the generous support of the Orphan Disease Center, Miles for Millie, Team Glut1, and the Glut1 Deficiency Foundation.

Learn more about the history of Team Glut1 in the Million Dollar Bike Ride and previous grant recipients.